When Jesus was born God sent a message in the heavens about His birth to magi from the East, well beyond the borders of Israel. They were looking for a deliverer and God met their hungry hearts with the news of Christmas. Matthew’s Gospel tells the remarkable story. “After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, ‘Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him’ ” (Matthew 2:1-2).
Christmas brings hope for those who are looking for Him. The University of Pennsylvania did a study that demonstrated the powerful influence of hope on their students’ behavior. The school did testing that showed the academic performances of its freshman class were predicted more accurately by their level of hope than by their SAT scores or their high school grades.
Who does the hope of Christmas touch today? Christmas is even for those who, like the Magi, don’t know the Bible. It is for those who weren’t taught Scripture, but whose hearts long for peace. In our culture, there are many who, like the magi, come from non-Christian backgrounds. They are hungry enough for the truth to seek God and He has led them to the Baby of Bethlehem where all their hopes can be realized.
Christmas is also for those who have been longing for a Savior. They may have been devout in their religious observance, but still understand that their only hope is for God to come to them. They have been waiting for God to show up. He has!
Helen Keller, who was deaf, mute and blind, never went to church during her early childhood. She did not learn the story of the love of God in Christ until a friend took her to Phillips Brooks for religious instruction. Brooks, The author of O Little Town of Bethlehem, told her about the Baby of Bethlehem. In the simplest possible language, he explained how God had sent Jesus to teach us His will, show us His love and make Himself known to humanity. Helen Keller then spelled into the hands of her interpreter a profound thought. “I knew all the time there must be One like that, but I didn’t know His Name.” His name is Jesus and Christmas means that He has brought hope to the world.
